Electric control circuit



May 2, 1967 F. A. WILLIS, JR

ELECTRIC CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1964 their May2, 1967 I F. A. WILLIS, JR

ELECTRIC CONTROL vCIRCUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1964 m Y O m u.m m O O E L C C R Y T R A E E G 8 L S D N H m E 4E L m .Lm 7mm U E I R MB WI H E H L I. H C DG nr d N 1I .U.IU ,U.l mmm L 0 U L6 UH .3 5 L7 C0 BC l Cm I A v.. W W L 6 L O A U A L L I m R M MDA R V RRR .:L L AT Y W rW o B o R Nm P I 2 T DWA 8l D. N EOR 6 3 O R SDF O IL IL O N, DL mw I I.I Tw? W EYWM @om ooBBUT 6 S M B 7@ 7 O D L I -IJ I S SN R E IC 2 E R R 0EH TOM LC 2 D Tl. T SIL FII l LC C C ACEOI E WWE Low l 2J l BWISI La mMww mmv? G ERAT Il STRA LATCHING RELAY AS SHOWN INDICATES (A) RESET COIL(LR-L) LAST TO BE ENERGIZED (B) RAIL TRAVELING DOWNWRD FREDERICK A.WILLIS, JR.

A7' TURA/EYE M 0K L, L, I In United States Patent ice 3,317,860 ELECTRICCNTROL CRCUIT Frederick A. Wiliis, Jr., Whitinsviile, Mass., .assignorto Whitin Machine Works, Whitinsville, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,899 7 Claims. (Ci.317-137) This invention relates to frames for paying off a filamentarymaterial from a feed mechanism and winding the material onto a bobbin toform a package of the material on the bobbin.

The disclosure herein, though not the claimed invention, issubstantially the same ,as disclosures in a copending commonly-assignedapplication by Ronald C. Mason and William E. Strzelewicz, Jr., forWinding Apparatus, application Ser. No. 409,669, filed concurrentlyherewith and a copending .commonly-assigned application by Ronald C.Mason, William B. Strzelewicz, Jr., and Frederick A. Willis, J r., forWinding Apparatus With Electric Control Circuit, application Ser. No.409,916 also filed concurrently herewith.

Conventional frames for paying off a filamentary material from a feedmechanism such as a roving frame and winding the material onto a bobbinto form a package of the material on the bobbin are disclosed in, forexample, a patent to Hendrickson No. 2,003,362, assigned to the assigneeof the present application. Such machines marked a considerable advancein the art at the time of their introduction, but further improvement ofthem is desirable.

For example, the conventional design gives rise to a harsh, noisy actionof the contact shaft, which must be suddenly geared into a high-speedrotating shaft (the top cone shaft) and suddenly stopped after only halfa revolution with much noise and shock to the skip gear, contact dogs,builder nuts, and contact shaft.

Further, conventional apparatus is vsubject to rail run overs because ofthe period of no drive when the twin bevel gears are being shifted.

Also, the front roll speed of the conventional frame must be limited toabout 300 rotations per minute, because the skip gear does not meshproperly with the top cone bevel gear at speeds greater than that.

Finally, conventional machines may not be stopped safely from anoperational point of view at all positions of rail travel.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric controlcircuit facilitating the use of an improved frame which remedies theshortcomings of the conventional apparatus pointed out above.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide anelectric control circuit adapted to facilitate the performance of first,second, and third functions which may be, for example, effecting arelative traverse of a feed mechanism and a bobbin in a first direction,effecting a relative traverse of the feed mechanism and bobbin in asecond direction opposite the rst direction, and effecting steppedmovements of the cone-pulley-belt guide at the end of each traverse.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric controlcircuit facilitating the use of a roving frame in which the cushioningeffect of a compressible fluid is employed to minimize the noise andshock associated with movement of the cone-pulley-belt guide.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing,in apparatus for performing first, second, and third functions, theimprovement comprising first and second relay coils, first, second,third, and fourth pairs of contacts governed by the first and secondcoils, and a control relay coil. The first pair of contacts is 3,317,860Patented May 2, 1967 adapted alternately to occupy first and secondstates and caused to occupy the first state on energization of the firstcoil and the second state on energization of the second coil. The secondpair of contacts is adapted alternately to occupy third and fourthstates and caused to occupy the third state on energization of the firstcoil and the fourth state on energization of the second coil. The thirdpair of contacts is adapted alternately to occupy fifth and sixth statesand caused to occupy the fifth state on energization of the first coiland the sixth state on energization of the second coil. The fourth pairof contacts is adapted alternately to occupy seventh and eighth statesand caused to occupy the seventh state on energization of the first coiland the eighth state on energization of the second coil. All of thepairs of contacts are prevented from changing states when both the firstand second coils are de-energized. The first pair of contacts in itsfirst state facilitates performance of the first function, the secondpair of contacts in its fourth state facilitates performance of thesecond function, the third pair of contacts in its fifth statefacilitates energization of the control relay coil, and the fourth pairof contacts in its eighth state facilitates energization of the controlrelay coil. A fifth pair of contacts is also provided and is adaptedalternately to occupy ninth and tenth states and causedV to occupy theninth state on energization of the control relay coil and the tenthstate on de-energization of the control relay coil. One of the ninth andtenth states facilitates performance of the third function.

An understanding of further particulars of the invention may be gainedfrom a consideration of the following detailed description of arepresentative embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with theaccompanying figures in the drawings, of Which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly-schematic partly-sectional view of oneform of apparatus the operation of which is facilitated by the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the apparatus ofFIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit constructed inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 1 shows drive means 10 connected by suitable linkages 11, 12 to atop cone pulley 14 and a flier 16, respectively, to rotate the top conepulley 14 at constant speed and the flier at constant speed.

The top cone pulley 14 is connected to a bottom cone pulley 18 .by acone pulley belt 2f) extending therebetween :and tightly drawnthereabout so that the rotation of the top cone pulley 14 in thedirection indicated by the arrow associated with the top cone pulley 14is effective to rotate the bottom cone pulley 18 in the directionindicated by the arrow associated with the bottom cone pulley 18.

The top cone pulley 14 is tapered, either linearly as shown ornon-linearly, so that its diameter perpendicular to its axis of rotationadjacent to its base 22 (the conefrustum base to `the left as seen inthe figure) is larger than the corresponding diameter adjacent to itsbase 24. Similarly, the bottom cone pulley 1S is tapered, eitherlinearly as shown or non-linearly, and has a large base 26 and a smallbase 27. The bottom cone pulley is arranged, however, with its largebase 26 to the right of its small base 27 as seen in the figure ratherthan to the left.

A cone-pulley-'belt guide or shipper 28 envelops a portion of the belt20 to guide the belt 20 and move it longitudinially ofthe axes of theupper and lower cone pulleys 14, 18. Those skilled in the art willreadily understand that the cone pulleys 14, 18 and the :belt 20constitute a variable-mechanical-advantage means and that, for example,when the ibelt 20 is moved lto the left as indicated in FIG. 1, therotational speed of the lower cone pulley 18 increases .and that, whenthe belt 2f), is moved to the right as seen in FIG. 1, the rotationalspeed of the lower cone pulley 18 decreases.

In the winding of roving, for example, it is normally desired to shiftthe belt towards the right as seen in FIG. 1 following each traversewith respect to each other of the flier 16 and a bobbin 30 on which theroving is to be wound. The flier 16 is made to rotate, as noted above,by the drive means 10 at a constant speed. The bobbin 30, beingconnected to the lower cone pulley 18 by suitable linkages 32, 33,rotates in the same direction in which the flier 16 rotates but morerapidly than the hier 16. The feed mechanism and bobbin thus :rotatewith respect to each other at a rotational velocity w. As the thicknessof the package of roving increases, the tangential speed of the packagewould `:be-come excessively great, except for the fact that therotational speed of the bobbin 30 decreases with each successivetraverse as the =belt 20 moves to the right as seen in FIG. l. Also, inorder to provide the tapered bobbin shape indicatedat t, the

length of each successive traverse is preferably decreased.V

The lbelt shipper 28 has formed thereon a rack 34 adapted t be driven bygearing 36 which is in turn actuated by a ratchet 38 under the controlof a piston rod 40 of a piston-cylinder assembly 42. Y Thus, movement ofthe piston 43 (FIG. 2) of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 to, forexample, the right as seen in FIG. 1 and in the direction of the lowerarrow in FIG. 2, actuates the gearing mechanism 36 through the ratchetassembly 38 to move the rack 34 and hence the shipper 28 to the right asseen in FIG. 1 and therefore shift the belt 20 to the right and changethe mechanical advantage of the variable-mechanical-advantage meansconstituted by the cone pulleys 14, 18 and the belt 20. The directionsof rotation of the gears constituting the gearing mechanism 36 are shownby appropriate arrows in FIG. 2. Movement of the piston 43 in theopposite direction-i.e., to the left as seen in FIG. l-has no effect onthe location of the =belt 20 longitudinally of the axes of the conepulley 14, 18, inasmuch as the ratchet 38 is free wheeling in responseto such movement of the piston 43.

The piston 43 of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 is actuated by an airsupply line 44 and an air exhaust line 46 communicating with a shiftablevalve 48 under the control of a solenoid 50 and spring 54. The valve 48moves to the position shown in response to energization of the solenoid50. In the position of the valve shown, the air supply line 44communicates through a passage 45 in the valve 48 with a line 52 formoving the piston 43 of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 to the right asseen in FIG. 1 and performing an indexing functioni.e., shifting thecone guide 28. A line 58 communicating with a passage 47 in the valve 48permits the exhaust of air from the right-hand end of the cylinder tothe exhaust line 46. With the valve 48 shifted to the left under theinuence of the spring 54, the solenoid 50 being de-energized, the airsupply line 44 is connected through a passage 56 in the valve 48 withthe line 5S to the righthand end of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 todrive the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly to the left as seen inFIG. 1. In this position, the left-hand end of the piston-cylinderassembly 42 is connected to a passage 60 in the valve 48 to permitexhaust of air in the left-hand end of the pistoncylinder assembly 42through the exhaust line 46.

Flow-control Valves 61, 61 (FIG. 2) control the speed of the piston 43and prevent shock loads.

An air pressure switch 63 stops the frame from operating if the airpressure in the mill falls below a safe builder operatingpressure-usually about 40 pounds per square inch.

The solenoid 50 is shown also in FIG. 3. As that tigure shows, theindexing solenoid 50 is energized when contacts CR-l are closed,inasmuch as the contacts CR-l and solenoid 50 are in series betweenlines 62., 64, across which a D.C. control voltage is applied.

The contacts CR-l are in turn closed when a builder relay CR isenergized. Provision may be made to energize the builder relay at eitherend of the relative traverse of the feed mechanism or ilier 16 andbobbin 30 with respect to each other, but provision is preferably madefor energizing the builder relay CR at each end of the relative traverseof the feed mechanism 16 and the bobbin 30 with respect to each other.To this end, the builder relay CR is connected by a pair ofnormally-open contacts LR-3 to a line 66 and by a pair of normallyclosedcontacts LR-4 to a line 68.

The lines 66 and 68 extend between the control-voltage i leads 62 and 64and therefore provide means for ener gizing the relay coil LR-R andreset coil LR-L, respectively, of a building latching relay 74. Therelay coil LR-R of the latching relay 74 is energized upon closing of afirst section 76 of abuilder switch 77, and the reset coil LR-L isenergized upon closing of a second section 78 of the builder switch 77.

The first and second sections 76 and 78 of the builder switch 77 are inturn closed at opposite ends of the relative traverse of the flier 16and bobbin 30' with respect to each other by contact of first and secondcontact dogs 80 and 82 with a third contact dog 84 (FIG. l). The contactdogsr80 and 82 are mounted on builder nuts 86 and 88, respectively,which are in turn threadedly engaged with a rotatable screw having alower Vportion 92 threaded oppositely to an upper portion 94 and atoprnost portion 90 square in cross section so as to be rotatable by agear train 130. The nuts 86, 88, screw 90, and contact dogs 80, 82 aremounted on support means 96 rigidly retained on a bobbin rail 98 onwhich is also mounted the bobbin 30. The bobbin rail 98 is made toreciprocate upwardly and downwardly, so that a relative traverse oflength l and at velocity v of the Yfeed mechanism or flier 16 and bobbin30 with respect to each other is established. The means forVestablishing the relative traverse includes a rail lifter 100 havingthereon a rack 101 engaged with a train of gears 102 connected to ashaft 104. The shaft'104 in turn is driven through a reversible clutchmechanismr105 having clutches 106, 107 which are driven respectively bya pair of bevel gears 110, 114. The gears and 114 Vrotate in oppositedirections with respect to each other, inasmuch as they are coaxial andare driven 4by a bevel gear 112 in constant engagement with the gears1101, 114 and having its axis normal to the axes of the gears 110, 114.

As noted above, the gear train 32 is driven by the lower cone pulley 18at a speed depending on the location of the belt 20. Inasmu'ch as thelower cone pulley 18 always turns in the same direction, the gear train32 and the bevel gears 108, 112 also always turn in the same direction.

Depending on which of the clutches 106, 107 is coupled to the shaft 104(the other clutch being disengaged from the shaft 104 and freewheeling), the shaft 104 turns in one direction or the otherand, throughthe gear train 102 and the rack 101 and lifter element 100, reciprocates the bobbin rail 98 and the bobbin 30 upwardly and downwardly.For example, as Vshown in FIG. l, energization of the clutch 106 causesthe bobbin rail 98 to move downwardly and energization of the clutch 107causes the rail 98 to move upwardly.

A brake 116 is provided for immobilizing the shaft 104 and hence thebobbin 98 in the event of failure of both clutches, such as might `occurduring power failure. During normal operation, the brake 116 iselectrically held open; under power-off conditions, the brake is springset.

The clutches 106 and 107 are preferably electrically operated by thecircuit shown in FIG. 3. The clutch 107 is energized to cause the bobbinrail 98 to move upwardlyY when normally-open contacts LR-1 are closedbetween D.C. leads 118 and 120. Similarly, the rail-down clutch 106 isenergized to move the rail 98 downwardly when the normally-closedcontacts LR2 are closed between the same two leads 118 and 120. Thecurrent-delay characteristics inherent in the electric reversingclutches insure adequate holding power during rail reversal. Thus. railrun overs are eliminated.

All of the contacts LR-l, LR-Z, LR-S, and LR-4 are under the control ofthe builder latching relay 74. The coils LR-R and LR-L of the latchingrelay 74 are adapted to be alternately energized, and the latching relay74 is constructed in such a manner that, regardless of whether the relaycoil LR-R or the reset coil LR-L is energized, all four of the contactsLR-l, LR-Z, LR-3, and LR-4 are reversed and remain in their new statesuntil energization of the other of the coils LR-R and LR-L. To this end,the contacts LR-l, LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 are directly attracted by theelectromagnet of the relay coil LR-R. Energization of the coil LR-Rtherefore magnetically moves the contacts LR-1, LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 totheir magnetically-caused states, in which states they are mechanicallyheld by mechanical holding means represented at 121, regardless ofwhether the relay coil LR-R remains energized. The electromagnet of thereset coil LR-L does not act directly on the contacts LR-l, LR-Zl, LR-3,and LR-4 but acts, instead, on the mechanical holding means 121 torelease the mechanical holding means 121 and permit the contacts LR-l,LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 to return to their normal or mechanicallycausedstates shown in FIG. 3. The holding means 121 provides a memory toprevent the rail 98 from goingin the wrong direction on start-up afterthe frame has been stopped for any reason.

Inasmuch as there are five pairs of contacts LR-l, LR-Z, LR-S, LR-4, andCR-l, each adapted to occupy alternately either of two states, there areten different contact states which need to be separately identified.Also, there are four different times which need to be considered in atraverse cycle: time l1, during which the coil LR-R is energized and thecoil LR-L is de-energized; time l2, during which both coils LR-R andLR-L are de-energized; time t3, during which the coil LR-L is energizedand the coil LR-R is deenergized; and time t4, during which both coilsLR-R and LR-L are de-energized. Times t1 and t3 are of substantiallyequal duration and times t2 and I4 are of duration substantially equalto each other and substantially exceeding the duration of times t1 andI3. Finally, it is to be noted that the contacts LR-l in their closedstate facilitate the performance of a first function such as energizingthe rail-up clutch 187 to cause the rail 98 to move upwardly; thecontacts LR-Z in their closed state facilitate the performance of asecond function such as energizing the rail-down clutch 186 to cause therail 98 to move downwardly; and the contacts CR-1 in their closed statefacilitate the performance of a third function such as energization ofthe solenoid 50 to index the guide or shipper 2S.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will now be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art. FIG. 3 illustrates the casewhere the reset coil LR-L was the last to be energized, so that allcontacts LR-l, LR-2, LR-S, and LR-4 are shown in their normal ormechanically-caused states. Thus, the contacts LR-Z are closed,energizing the rail-down clutch 1.06 and causing the bobbin 30 to movedownwardly with respect to the flier 16. At the bottom of the traverse,the contact dogs 82 and 84 (FIG. 1) engage each other, closing theswitch 76 shown in FIG. 3. This closing of the switch 76 energizes therelay coil LR-R and reverses all of the contacts LR-1, LR-2, LR-, andLR-i. The contacts LR-l are therefore closed, energizing the rail-upclutch, and contacts LR-Z are open, de-energizing the rail-down clutch,so that the rail begins to move up. The delay characteristic referred toabove eliminates run over of the rail 98 during the reversal of traversemotion. At the same time, the contacts LR-3 close, completing a circuitthrough the switch 76, the contacts LR-3, and the builder relay CR.

This causes the contacts CR-l under the control of the builder relay toclose, indexing the indexing solenoid 50. The indexing of the solenoid50 shifts the piston of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 in the mannernoted above to move the cone guide belt shipper 28 to the right throughthe gear train 36, as shown in FIG. 1.

A gear train is actuated by movement of the rack 34 to turn the rod 90and bring the nuts 86 and 88 closer together to shorten the succeedingtraverse. The length l of a given traverse is of course a function ofthe distance x between the contact dogs 80 and 82.

When the rail-up clutch 106 has caused the rail 98 to move upwardlysufhciently to disengage the contact dogs 82 and 84 from each other, theswitch 76 is opened, so that the relay coil LR-R is de-energized.Because the relay coil 74 is a latching relay the contacts LR-l, LR-Z,LR-3, and. LR-4 remain in their magnetically-caused states even thoughthe relay coil LR-R is de-energized. The opening of the switch 76 breaksthe circuit through the now-closed contacts LR-S and the builder relayCR, however, so that the relay CR is de-energized, the contacts CR-lopen, and the indexing solenoid 50 returns to its normal position underthe urging of the spring 54 (it is to be noted that FIG. 1 shows thevalve 48 in its indexing rather than in its normal position). When thevalve 48 returns to its normal position, the ratchet 38 freewheels anddoes not move the guide or shipper 28 to the left; the shipperaccordingly remains in its new position.

At the upper end of the traverse, the contact dogs 80 and 84 makecontact with each other, closing the switch 78 and energizing the resetcoil LR-L of the building latch- -ing relay 74. This causes reversal ofall contacts LR-l,

LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 to their normal positions as shown in FIG. 3 andenergizes the rail-down clutch 106 to cause the rail 98 to movedownwardly, while again avoiding rail run over. Also, the closing of theswitch 78 actuates the builder relay CR through the contacts LR-4,closes the contacts CR-l, and indexes the indexing solenoid 50 as notedabove. When the rail has moved downwardly sutiiciently to separate thecontact dogs 8() and 84, the switch 78 is opened, thereby de-energizingthe reset coil LR-L. Inasmuch, however, as the relay is a latching relayand all contacts are in their normal or mechanically-caused states, thecontacts LR-l, LR-2, LR-3, and LR-4 remain in their new states, eventhough the reset coil LR-L is de-energized. The opening of the switch 78also breaks the circuit through the contacts LR-4 and the builder relayCR, so that the relay CR is de-energized, the contacts CR-l open, andthe indexing solenoid 50 returns to its normal position under the urgingof the spring 54. The ratchet 38 again free-wheels, so that the shipper28 remains in its new position.

A wind-back motor 14@ is connected through gearing 142, a clutch 144,and a shaft and pinion 146 forming a portion of the gear train 86y tothe rack 34 to return the guide 28 and builder nuts 86, 88 to theirstarting positions at the end of the package-buiding operation. Theclutch 144 is keyed to a shaft 145 by a keyway 148 but movable axiallyalong the shaft by clutch-control means 150. The clutch 144 isdisengaged during the building operation and engaged at the end thereofto eliminate the need for manual rewinding.

The present invention relates only to the subject matter of FIG. 3. Itdoes not relate to the subject matter of FIGS. 1 and 2, which is aseparate invention of Ronald C. Mason and William B. Strzelewicz, Jr.,and which is disclosed in the present application merely to set forth anexemplary use of which the present invention is capable. Obviously,thesubject matter of the present invention coud be used in many otherenvironments. Nor does the present invention relate to the subjectmatter of FIGS. 1 and 2 in combination with the details of the subjectmatter of FIG. 3, which is a separate invention by Ronald C. Mason,William B. Strzelewicz, Jr., and Frederick A. Willis, Jr.

Thus, there is provided in accordance with the invention novel andhighly-effective means for paying off a filamentary material from a feedmechanism and winding the material onto a bobbin to form a package ofthe material on the bobbin. The use of a pneumatic piston-cylinderassembly eliminates the harsh, noisy action of the contact shaft and theshock to the skip gear, contact dogs,.builder nuts, and contact shaft.The reversing clutches eliminate rail run overs during reversal of railmovement by always maintaining positive holding of the rail. The frontroll speed may be Varied independently of frame speed and may besubstantially in excess of 300 rotations per minute, therebyfacilitating greater manufacturing efficiency. Further, the machine maybe stopped safely in any position of rail travel. Many alternativeembodiments Within the scope of the invention will readily occur tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is to be construedas including all of the modifications thereof which fall Within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for performing first, second, and third functions, theimprovement comprising first and second relay coils, first, second,third, and fourth pairs of contacts governed by the first and secondcoils, a control relay coil, the first pair of contacts ,ibeing adaptedalternately to occupy first and second states and `being caused tooccupy the first state on energization of the first coil and the secondstate on energization of the second coil, the second pair of contactsbeing adapted alternately to occupy third and fourth states and beingcaused to occupy the third state on energization of the first coil andthe fourth State on energization of the second coil, the third pair ofcontacts being adapted alternately to occupy fifth and sixth states andbeing caused to occupy the fifth state on energization of the first coiland the sixth state on energization Y of the second coil, and the fourthpair of contacts being adapted alternately to occupy seventh and eighthstates and being caused to occupy the seventh state on energization ofthe first coil and the eighth state on energization of the second coil,and the first, second, third, and fourth pairs of contacts beingprevented from changing states when both the first coil and the secondcoil are deenergized, the first pair of contacts in its first statefacilitating performance of the first function, the second pair I ofcontacts in its fourth state facilitating performance of of the secondfunction, the third pair of contacts in its fifth state facilitatingenergization of the control relay coil, and the fourth pair of contactsin itseighth state facilitating energization of the control relay coil,and a fifth pair of contacts adapted alternately to occupy ninth andtenth states and being caused to occupy the ninth state on energizationof the control relay coil and the tenth state on de-energization of thecontrol relay coil, one of the ninth and tenth states facilitatingperformance of the third function, and means to effect energization andde-energization of said first and second relay coils, said first andsecond relay coils being connected in circuit with said means, and saidcontrol relay coil being connected in circuit with said third and fourthpairs of contacts and said means.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said means :alternatelyenergized the first and second coils.

3. In apparatus for performing first, second, and third functions, theimprovement comprising first and second relay coils, first, second,third, and fourth pairs of contacts governed by the first and secondcoils, a control relay coil, the first pair of contacts being adapted tooccupy `alternately closed and open states and being-caused to occupythe closed state on energization of the first coil and the open state onenergization of the second coil, the second pair of contacts beingadapted to occupy alternately open and closed states and being caused tooccupy the open state on energization of the first coil and the closedstate on energization of the Second coil, the third pair of contactsbeing adapted to occupy alternately closed and open states and beingcaused to occupy the closed state on energization of the first coil andthe open state on energization of the second coil, and the fourth pairof contacts being adapted to occupy alternately open and closed statesand being caused to occupy the open state on energization of the firstcoil and the closed state on energization of the second coil, the first,second, third, and fourth pairs of contacts being prevented fromchanging states when both the first coil and the second coil aredeenergized, the first pair of contacts in its closed state facilitatingperformance of the first function, the second pair of contacts in itsclosed state facilitating performance of the second function, the thirdpair of contacts in its closed state facilitating energization of thecontrol relay coil, and the fourth pair of contacts in its closed statefacilitating energization of the control relay coil, and a fifth pair ofcontacts adapted alternately to occupy open and closed states and causedto occupy the open state on de-energization of the control relay coiland the closed state on energization of the control relay coil, theclosed state of the fifth pair of contacts facilitating performance ofthe third function, and means to effect energization and de-energizationof said first and second relay coils, said first and second relay coilsbeing connected in circuit with said means, and said control relay coilbeing connected in circuit with said third and fourth pairs of contactsand said means.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which said means energizes and`de-energizes the first and second relay coils in a cycle comprisingfour consecutive time intervals t1, t2, t3, and t4, the first coil beingenergized and the second coil de-energized during time t1, both thefirst and second coils being de-energized during time t2, the secondcoil being energized and the first coil de-energized during time t3, andboth the first and second coils being (le-energized during time t4.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which times t1 and t3 are ofsubstantially equal duration and times t2 and t4 are of durationsubstantially equal to each other and substantially exceeding theduration of times t1 and t3.

6. In apparatus for performing first, second, and third functions, theimprovementcomprising first and second relay coils, first, second,third, and fourth pairs of contacts governed by the first and secondcoils, a control relay coil, the first pair of contacts being adaptedalternately to occupy first and second states and being magneticallycaused to occupy the first state on energization of the first coil andmechanically caused to occupy the second state on energization of thesecond coil, the second pair of contacts being adapted alternately tooccupy third and fourth states and being magnetically caused to occupythe third state on energization of the first coil and mechanicallycaused to occupy the fourth state on energization of the second coil,the third pair of contacts being adapted alternately to occupy fifth andsixth states and being magnetically caused to occupy the fifth state onenergization'of the first coil and mechanically caused to occupy thesixth state on energization of the second coil, and the fourth pair ofcontacts being adapted alternately to occupy seventh and eigth statesand being magnetically caused to occupy the seventh state onenergization of the first coil and mechanically caused to occupy theeighth state on energization of the second coil, and the first, second,third,

and fourth pairs of contacts being mechanically prevented from changingstates when both the first coil and the second coil are de-energized,the first pair of contacts in its first state facilitating performanceof the first function, the second pair of contacts in its fourth statefacilitating performance of the second function, the third pair ofcontacts in its fifth state facilitating energization of the controlrelay coil, and the fourth pair of contacts in its eighth statefacilitating energization of the control relay coil, and a fifth pair ofcontacts adapted alternately to occupy ninth and tenth states and beingcaused to occupy the ninth state on energization of the control relaycoil and the tenth state on deenergization of the control relay coil,one of the ninth and tenth states facilitating performance of the thirdfunction, and means to effect energization and de-energization of saidrst and second relay coils, said first and second relay coils beingconnected in circuit with said means, and said control relay coil beingconnected in circuit with said third and fourth pairs of contacts andsaid means.

7. In apparatus for performing first, second, and third functions, theimprovement comprising first and second relay coils, rst, second, third,and fourth pairs of contacts governed `by the first and second coils, acontrol relay coil, the first pair of contacts being adapted to occupyalternately closed and open states and being magnetically caused tooccupy the closed state on energization of the first coil andmechanically caused to occupy the open state on energization of thesecond coil, the second pair of contacts being adapted to occupyalternately open and closed states and being magnetically caused tooccupy the -open state on energization of the first coil andmechanically caused to occupy the closed state on energization of thesecond coil, the third pair of contacts being adapted to occupyalternately closed and open states and being magnetically caused tooccupy the closed state on energization of the first coil andmechanically caused to occupy the open state on energization of thesecond coil, and the fourth pair of contacts being adapted to occupyalternately open and closed states and being magnetically caused tooccupy the open state on energization of the first coil and mechanicallycaused to occupy the closed state on energization of the second coil,the first, second, third, and fourth pairs of contacts vbeingmechanically prevented from changing states when both the first coil andthe second coil are de-energized, the first pair of contacts in itsclosed state facilitating performance of the first function, the secondpair of contacts in its closed state facilitating performance of thesecond function, the third pair of contacts in its closed statefacilitating energization of the control relay coil, the fourth pair ofcontacts in its closed state facilitating energization of the controlrelay coil, a fifth pair of contacts adapted alternately to occupy openand closed states and caused to occupy the open state on de-energzationof the control relay coil and the closed state on energization of thecontrol relay coil, the closed state of the fifth pair of contactsfacilitating performance of the third function, and means to effectenergization and de-energization of said rst and second relay coils,said rst and second relay coils being connected in circuit with saidmeans, and said control relay coil being connected in circuit with saidthird and fourth pairs of contacts and said means, said means energizingand de-energizing the first and second coils in a cycle comprising fourconsecutive time intervals l1, f2, t3, and t4, the first coil beingenergized and the second coil (ie-energized during time t1, both thefirst and second coils being de-energized during time t2, the secondcoil being energized and the first coil de-energized during time r3, andboth the first and second coils being tie-energized during time t4,times t1 and t3 being of substantially equal duration, and times t2 andt4 being of duration substantially equal to each other and substantiallyexceeding the duration of times t1 and t3.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,869 4/1961Balint 317-137 MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

' L. T. HIX, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD FUNCTIONS, THEIMPROVEMENT COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND RELAY COILS, FIRST, SECOND,THIRD, AND FOURTH PAIRS OF CONTACTS GOVERNED BY THE FIRST AND SECONDCOILS, A CONTROL RELAY COIL, THE FIRST PAIR OF CONTACTS BEING ADAPTEDALTERNATELY TO OCCUPY FIRST AND SECOND STATES AND BEING CAUSED TO OCCUPYTHE FIRST STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE FIRST COIL AND THE SECOND STATEON ENERGIZATION OF THE SECOND COIL, THE SECOND PAIR OF CONTACTS BEINGADAPTED ALTERNATELY TO OCCUPY THIRD AND FOURTH STATES AND BEING CAUSEDTO OCCUPY THE THIRD STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE FIRST COIL AND THEFOURTH STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE SECOND COIL, THE THIRD PAIR OFCONTACTS BEING ADAPTED ALTERNATELY TO OCCUPY FIFTH AND SIXTH STATES ANDBEING CAUSED TO OCCUPY THE FIFTH STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE FIRST COILAND THE SIXTH STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE SECOND COIL, AND THE FOURTHPAIR OF CONTACTS BEING ADAPTED ALTERNATELY TO OCCUPY SEVENTH AND EIGHTSTATES AND BEING CAUSED TO OCCUPY THE SEVENTH STATE ON ENERGIZATION OFTHE FIRST COIL AND THE EIGHT STATE ON ENERGIZATION OF THE SECOND COIL,AND THE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH PAIRS OF CONTACTS BEINGPREVENTED FROM CHANGING STATES WHEN BOTH THE FIRST COIL AND THE SECONDCOIL ARE DEENERGIZED, THE FIRST PAIR OF CONTACTS IN ITS FIRST STATEFACILITATING PERFORMANCE OF THE FIRST FUNCTION, THE SECOND PAIR OFCONTACTS IN ITS FOURTH STATE FACILITATING PERFORMANCE OF OF THE SECONDFUNCTION, THE THIRD PAIR OF CONTACTS IN ITS FIFTH STATE FACILITATINGENERGIZATION OF THE CONTROL RELAY COIL, AND THE FOURTH PAIR OF CONTACTSIN ITS EIGHTH STATE FACILITATING ENERGIZATION OF THE CONTROL RELAY COIL,AND A FIFTH PAIR OF CONTACTS ADAPTED ALTERNATELY TO OCCUPY NINTH ANDTENTH STATES AND BEING CAUSED TO OCCUPY THE NINTH STATE ON ENERGIZATIONOF THE CONTROL RELAY COIL AND THE TENTH STATE ON DE-ENERGIZATION OF THECONTROL RELAY COIL, ONE OF THE NINTH AND TENTH STATES FACILITATINGPERFORMANCE OF THE THIRD FUNCTION, AND MEANS TO EFFECT ENERGIZATION ANDDE-ENERGIZATION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND RELAY COILS, SAID FIRST ANDSECOND RELAY COILS BEING CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID MEANS, AND SAIDCONTROL RELAY COIL BEING CONNECTED IN CIRCUIT WITH SAID THIRD AND FOURTHPAIRS OF CONTACTS AND SAID MEANS.